CHARTER 


— AND  - 

—OF  THE— 


PROPERTY  HOLDERS 


— OF  — 

-*sNEW-M)KlEANS,*LA.s*- 

ttiffiBB*  a®  sc.  eayuaMS  mm. 


1888: 


Hopkins’  Printing  Office,  20  & 22  Commercial  Place,  N.  O. 


OFFICERS 


GERHARD  BUSING, President 

JAS.  H.  DOUGLAS,  - - - - Vice-President. 
J.  H.  WORM  ANN,  -----  - Treasurer. 

J.  H.  WENDT,  --------  Secretary. 


FINANCE  COMMITTEE. 

Peter  Schneider,  H.  Pohlmann,  Sr., 

M.  Griffin. 


INVESTIGATION  COMMITTEE. 

Jno.  Couve,  Thomas  Bergen, 


August  Buesing. 


P c\  ^ 

(!ilA.RTEK 


-OF  THE- 


Property  Helriers’  Mutual  Aid  Fire 
Indemnity  Bnciety. 


UNITED  STATES  OF  AMEBICA, 
State  of  Lousiana, 

Parish  of  Orleans,  City  of  New  Orleans. 

BE  IT  KNOWN,  That  on  this  eighteenth  day  of 
October,  in  the  year  of  onr  Lord  one  thousand  eight 
hundred  and  eighty-eight  and  of  the  independence  of 
the  United  States  of  America  the  one  hundred  and 
thirteenth.  Before  me,  Michael  Griffin,  a notary  public, 
duly  commissioned  and  qualified  in  and  for  the  Parish 
of  Orleans,  and  in  the  presence  of  the  witness  herein- 
after named  and  undersigned.  Personally  came  and 
appeared  Messrs.  August  Buesing,  John  H.  Wormann, 
Thos.  Bergin,  Peter  Schneider,  John  Couve,  James  H. 
Douglas,  Gerhard  Busing,  H.  Pohlmann,  Sr.,  and  others, 
#all  residents  of  this  parish  and  State,  who  mutually 
’and  severally  declared:  That,  availing  themselves  of 
Mhe  right  and  privileges  granted  by  and  contained  in 
*the  statutes  of  Louisiana,  they  form  and  constitute 
themselves  and  their  successors,  and  such  persons  as 
may  hereafter  become  associated  with  them,  and  their 
successors,  into  a body  corporate,  to  which  end  they 
ynake  and  agree  to  the  following  articles  of  association 
to  govern  the  same  as  the  ^^corporation. 


4 


CHARTER. 


ARTICLE  I. 

Section  1,  The  name,  style  and  title  of  this  organi- 
zation shall  be  the  “PROPERTY  HOLDERS5  MUTUAL 
AID  FIRE  INDEMNITY  SOCIETY.55 

Sec.  2.  Its  domicile  shall  be  the  city  of  New  Orleans. 

Sec.  3.  It  shall  exist  for  ninety-nine  years,  unless  its 
affairs  shalhbe  sooner  settled  and  liquidated  as  hereinaf- 
ter provided. 

Sec.  4.  It  shall  have  and  use  a corporate  seal,  with 
such  device  as  its  Board  of  Directors  may  adopt,  the 
same  to  break,  alter  or  amend  as  the  said  Board  may 
deem  proper. 

Sec.  5 It  shall  have  power  and  authority  to  contract, 
sue  and  be  sued  in  its  corporate  name,  and  to  acquire 
and  possess  by  any  title  whatever,  real  and  personal 
property,  and  to  dispose  of  same  at  pleasure. 

Sec  6.  The  President,  or  in  his  absence  from  the 
office  of  the  Society,  the  Secretary,  shall  be  the  proper 
officer  upon  whom  citations  and  other  legal  process 
shall  be  served 

Sec.  7.  The  assets  of  this  Society,  to  cover  all  losses, 
damage  or  indebtedness  of  any  kind  whatsoever,  shall 
consist  of  the  cash  and  notes  paid  in  and  deposited  by 
the  individual  members,  in  accordance  with  the  provi- 
sions of  section  5 of  article  IX,  and  of  any  other  securi- 
ties that  this  society  may  possess. 

Sec.  8.  No  member  of  Society  shall  be  held  liable 
or  responsible  for  the  acts,  conduct,  faults  or  liabilities 
of  this  corporation  beyond  the  amounts  of  the  notes 
and  cash  given  by  him  as  the  pledge  or  security  that 
he  will  pay  the  assessments  levied  against  him,  as  pro- 
vided in  article  IX,  section  4 of  this  charter. 

ARTICLE  H. 

Section  1.  The  object  of  this  Mutual  Aid  Society  is 
to  indemnify  its  members  for  losses  or  damages  sustain- 


CHARTER. 


5 


ed  by  fire  upon  their  property  situated  within  the 
limits  of  the  city  of  New  Orleans,  by  assessments 
levied  upon  its  members,  in  accordance  with  the 
provisions  of  this  charter. 

Sec.  2.  There  shall  be  no  limit  placed  upon  its 
membership.  Corporations,  through  their  proper 
representatives,  shall  be  eligible  to  membership  by 
conforming  to  the  rules  and  regulations  of  the 
association. 

Sec  3 Membership  shall  be  for  five  years.  At  the 
expiration  of  that  period  it  may  be  renewed  Should 
a member  resign  from  the  Association  he  will  be  entit- 
led to  a return  of  his  promissory  note,  within  thirty 
days  after  demand,  by  paying  whatever  legal  dues  and 
assessments  have  been  charged  to  him  up  to  date  of 
his  resignation. 

Sec.  4.  In  case  of  the  death  of  any  member  of  this 
Association,  all  of  his  rights  and  privileges  as  a member 
shall  descend  to  and  exist  in  his  heirs,  executors  or 
administrators,  and  shall  continue  so  to  exist  until  the 
expiration  of  the  deceased  member’s  term  of  member- 
ship; provided,  the  said  successors  conform  in  every 
respect  to  the  rules  and  regulations  laid  down  by  the 
charter  and  by-laws  of  this  Association.  In  case  of  a 
failure  so  to  conform,  the  rights  and  privileges  of  said 
membership  shall  be  forfeited,  after  the  representatives 
of  said  deceased  shall  have  been  put  in  default,  and 
the  notes  drawn  by  the  deceased  in  favor  of  and  de- 
posited with  this  Society  shall  be  returned  to  his  said 
representatives,  after  all  legal  charges,  costs  and 
assessments  have  been  paid  and  within  a delay  of 
thirty  days  after  demand. 

Sec  5.  Except  in  the  case  provided  for  in  the  pre- 
ceding section,  none  but  members  of  this  association 
can  enjoy  any  of  the  rights  and  privileges  herein  con- 
ferred. They  are  personal  and  exclusive  No 


6 


CHARTER. 


assignment  can  be  made  of  any  member’s  rights,  title 
or  interest  in  this  Society  except  to  another  member, 
and  upon  such  assignee’s  assuming  all  of  the  obligations 
attaching  to  the  rights  transferred. 

Sec.  6.  The  admission  of  members  shall  be  governed 
by  special  laws  to  be  adopted  hereafter.  Applications 
for  membership  shall  be  in  writing  and  in  accordance 
with  the  provisions  of  this  charter  and  the  forms  to  be 
prescribed  hereafter.  They  shall  be  filed  at  the  office 
of  this  Society  to  be  acted  upon  according  to  the  rules 
and  regulations  contained  in  the  by-laws. 

Sec.  7.  In  all  elections  each  member  of  this  Society 
shall  be  entitled  to  one  vote,  without  reference  to  the 
number  of  certificates  he  may  have  or  the  amount  of 
property  returned  by  him  to  the  Society. 

Sec.  8.  Elections  shall  be  advertised  by  the  presi- 
dent and  secretary  in  at  least  one  daily  newspaper  in 
this  city,  three  times  in  ten  days  previous  to  the  day 
of  said  election. 

ARTICLE  III. 

Section  1.  The  corporate  powers  of  this  Association 
shall  be  vested  in  a Board  of  Directors,  composed  of 
nine  members  thereof,  of  whom  (excepting  the  first 
board  organized  under  this  charter)  one-third  shall  be 
elected  annually  on  the  third  Monday  in  December, 
and  shall  take  their  seats  on  the  first  day  of  January, 
and  whose  term  of  office  shall  be  for  three  years,  and 
until  their  successors  have  been  duly  elected  and  taken 
their  seats.  Five  members  of  this  board  shall  constitute 
a quorum  for  the  transaction  of  all  business.  The  said 
board  shall  adopt  such  by-laws  and  regulations  as  to 
them  shall  seem  advisable  and  necessary  to  the  success 
of  the  organization. 

Sec.  2.  The  first  Board  of  Directors  shall  be  com- 
posed of  the  following-named  persons,  who  shall  act 


CHARTER. 


7 


and  serve  from  the  time  this  charter  shall  go  into  effect 
and  operation,  up  to  the  date  hereinafter  set  forth,  as 
follows : 

1.  Messrs.  August  Buesing,  John  H.  Wormann* 
Michael  Griffin,  to  serve  until  January  1,  1890. 

2.  Thos.  Bergin,  Peter  Schneider,  John  Couve,  to 
serve  until  January  1,  1891. 

3.  Jas.  H.  Douglas,  Gerhard  Busing,  H.  Pohlmann, 
Sr.,  to  serve  until  January  1,  1892. 

Sec.  3.  All  elections  for  directors  shall  be  by  ballot, 
at  the  office  of  the  Society,  and  those  receiving  a plu- 
rality of  the  votes  cast  shall  be  deemed  duly  elected. 
No  member  shall  be  allowed  to  vote  for  another  absent 
member,  except  upon  a written  special  power  of 
attorney  previously  deposited  with  the  association. 

Sec.  4.  Should  any  of  the  directors  die^  resign  or 
remove  from  the  State,  or  otherwise  become  incompe- 
tent to  perform  the  duties  and  functions  of  his  office, 
the  remaining  members  of  the  Board  shall  fill  the 
vacancy  by  election;  provided  that  five  members  unite 
on  such  choice.  If  five  members  do  not  so  agree  then 
such  vacancy  shall  be  filled  by  special  election  after 
having  been  advertised  as  stated  in  Art.  2,  section  8. 

Sec.  5.  Should  any  Director  as  such,  or  as  an  officer 
of  this  association,  neglect  his  duties,  refuse  to  attend 
to  the  business  of  the  society,  or  be  guilty  of  such 
gross  misconduct  as  to  imperil  the  interests  of  the 
organization,  for  a period  of  two  months,  he  shall  be 
notified  of  his  derelictions,  and  after  a just  hearing 
has  been  afforded  him,  if  his  conduct  should  not  be 
satisfactorily  accounted  for  or  explained,  the  Board  of 
Directors  shall  declare  his  office  vacant,  and  shall  pro- 
ceed to  fill  such  vacancy  according  to  the  foregoing 
provisions 

Sec.  6.  For  all  their  just  and  lawful  actions  the 
directors  shall  be  defended  by  this  society. 


8 


CHARTER 


Sec.  7.  The  directors  shall  elect  annually,  beginning 
as  early  as  possible,  after  the  adoption  of  this  charter, 
one  member  from  their  number  to  serve  as  president 
.of  the  society,  one  as  vice-president,  one  as  treasurer, 
three  as  a committee  of  finance  and  three  as  a committee 
of  investigation.  They  shall  appoint  a secretary  and 
such  clerks  and  employes  as  the  affairs  and  necessities 
of  the  association  may  require.  They  shall  fill  all 
vacencies  whatever  under  the  restrictions  contained  in 
Art.,  Ill , Section  4 of  this  charter. 

Sec.  8.  They  shall  fix  the  compensation  of  all  officers 
and  employes  when  compensation  is  allowed.  They 
may  require  the  Treasurer,  Secretary,  clerks  or  employes 
to  give  bond  with  good  and  solvent  security  conditioned 
upon  the  faithful  performances  of  their  respective 
duties,  and  to  protect  the  society  from  financial  losses 
through  the  rnegligence  or  faults  of  such  officers  and 
employes. 

Sec.  9,  The  dates  of  the  regular  meetings  of  this 
society  shall  be  fixed  in  the  by-laws. 

ARTICLE  IY. 

Section  1.  The  President  shall  preside  at  all  meet- 
ings of  the  Society  and  of  the  Board  of  Directors. 
He  shall  have  general  management  and  supervision  of 
the  affairs  of  the  association.  He  shall  report  his  acts 
to  the  Board  of  Directors  for  their  approval 

Sec.  2.  Applications  for  membership  shall  be  first 
submitted  to  him  for  his  approval.  Where  the  property 
of  the  applicant  is  of  a special  hazardous  character,  it 
shall  be  referred  to  the  committee  of  investigation. 

Sec.  3.  He  shall,  with  the  secretary,  sign  the  certifi- 
cates of  membership.  He  may  call  special  meetings  of 
the  Board  of  Directors  and  of  the  society  when  their 
affairs  require  it. 


CHARTER.  9 

Sec.  4.  The  vice  president  shall  act  as  president 
during  the  disability  or  absence  of  the  president. 

ARTICLE  Y. 

Section  1.  The  treasurer  shall  be  the  custodian  of 
the  funds,  assets  and  valuables  of  the  society. 

The  cash  shall  be  deposited  in  such  bank  or  banks  as 
the  Board  of  Directors  may  designate.  Other  valuables 
shall  be  kept  in  a bank  box  deposited  in  one  of  the 
same  banks. 

No  funds  shall  be  drawn  from  bank  except  upon  a 
check  drawn  by  the  treasurer,  countersigned  by  the 
president  and  authorized  by  a resolution  of  the  Board 
of  Directors. 

Sec  2.  He  shall  collect  and  receipt  for  all  monies 
and  valuables  of  the  association  and  shall  immediately 
report  such  collections  when  made,  to  the  secretary. 

Sec.  3.  He  shall  keep  an  account  book,  a complete 
record  of  all  his  transactions,  which  shall  at  all  times 
be  subject  to  the  inspection  of  the  finance  committee. 

Sec.  4.  He  shall  cause  the  bank  book  of  the  Associa- 
tion to  be  balanced  every  month,  and  shall  submit 
same  to  the  inspection  of  the  Board  of  Directors  once  a 
month  and  whenever  called  upon  so  to  do  by  the  said 
board. 

ARTICLE  VI. 

Section  1.  The  secretary  shall  superintend  the  office 
of  the  association,  attend  to  its  correspondence,  be 
present  at  all  meetings  of  the  Association  and  of  the 
Board  of  Directors,  and  shall  keep  the  minutes  of  the 
proceedings. 

Sec.  2.  He  shall  prepare  the  certificates  of  member- 
ship and  sign  them  with  the  president. 

Sec.  3.  He  shall  keep  the  books  of  the  Association 
and  make  a monthly  report  to  the  Board  of  Directors 


10 


CHARTER, 


of  the  affairs  of  the  Association.  His  books  shall  at 
all  times  be  open  to  the  inspection  of  the  finance 
committee. 

Sec.  4.  He  shall  perform  such  other  duties  as  may 
be  prescribed  by  the  Board  of  Directors. 

ARTICLE  VII. 

Section  1.  The  finance  committee  shall  have  special 
supervision  over  the  financial  department  of  the  Asso- 
ciation, including  its  funds,  assets  and  valuables. 
They  shall  inspect  at  regular  stated  intervals  any  and 
all  books  of  the  Association. 

Sec.  2.  They  shall  report  to  the  Board  of  Directors 
all  informalities  and  omissions  discovered  in  any  of  the 
books  of  the  Association. 

Sec.  3.  They  shall  examine  all  bills  and  claims  pre- 
sented to  the  Association  and  if  found  correct,  approve 
them. 

Sec  4 They  shall  report  all  their  acts  to  the  Board 
of  Directors. 

ARTICLE  VIII, 

Section  1.  The  Committee  of  Investigation  shall 
examine  into  all  applications  for  membership  which 
may  be  referred  to  them  by  the  president,  and  approve 
or  reject  the  same. 

Sec.  2.  They  shall  investigate  the  causes  of  all  fires 
on  property  belonging  to  members  of  this  Association, 
ascertain  the  loss  sustained  and  report  of  the  result  of 
their  investigation  to  the  Board  of  Directors 

Sec.  3 They  shall  perform  such  other  duties  as 
may  be  prescribed  by  the  Board  of  Directors. 


CHARTER. 


11 


ARTICLE  IX. 

Section  1 Applications  for  membership  must  con- 
tain a full  description  of  the  applicant’s  property,  its 
nature,  character,  condition  and  locality  The  ap- 
praisement of  same  shall  be  made  after  filing  the 
application. 

Sec.  2 Movable  property  shall  be  appraised  an- 
nually. If  not  reappraised  at  the  expiration  of  the 
year,  the  right  to  indemnity  for  losses  by  fire  on  such 
property  shall  be  extinguished  If  movables  are  re- 
moved without  the  consent  of  the  Association,  the 
right  to  indemnity  shall  be  forfeited. 

Sec.  3.  In  cases  of  total  loss  by  fire,  the  amount  of 
the  indemnity  valuation  shall  be  paid  in  full,  accord- 
ing to  the  property  owner’s  certificate  of  membership. 
Where  the  loss  is  partial,  the  amount  to  be  paid  over 
shall  be  fixed  by  the  Committee  on  Investigation,  after 
examination  and  report. 

Sec  4.  When  the  amount  of  indemnity  to  be  paid 
over  has  been  ascertained  as  in  the  preceeding  section 
there  shall  be  levied  an  assessment  against  each  mem- 
ber of  the  association  for  his  proportion  of  the  loss 
thus  ascertained.  Such  levy  shall  be  based  upon  the 
ratio  which  the  amount  of  each  members  promissory 
note  and  cash  paid  by  him  bears  to  the  sum  total  of 
all  the  notes  and  cash  given  by  all  the  members  to  the 
society,  as  provided  for  in  section  5 of  this  article 

Sec.  5.  In  order  to  secure  to  the  association  the 
prompt  payment  of  assessments  levied  against  the 
members  and  to  provide  means  for  the  payment  of 
running  expenses,  a certain  percentage  upon  the  ap- 
praised value  of  their  property  shall  be  charged  each 
member  as  follows: 


12 


CHARTER. 


Upon  immovables  for  the  full  period  of  membership 
to-wit,  five  years;  upon  movables,  for  one  year. 
Twenty  per  cent,  of  the  charge  thus  fixed  against  im- 
movables shall  be  piid  in  cash,  and  for  the  balance  the 
member  shall  give  his  promissory  note  to  the  associa- 
tion, payable  upon  demand,  which  note  shall  not  be 
used  except  in  accordance  with  the  provisions  of  the 
charter  and  by-laws  of  the  Association.  The  full 
amount  charged  against  movables  shall  be  deposited 
in  cash. 

Sec.  6.  If  a member  should  acquire  other  property 
than  that  appraised  is  his  certificate,  upon  the  proper 
application  the  newly-acquired  property  may  be  ap- 
praised and  a certificate  issued  therefor.  If  he  should 
sell,  transfer,  donate,  convey  or  assign  property  included 
in  his  certificate,  the  appraisement  upon  proper  notice 
shall  be  diminished  accordingly,  or,  if  necessary,  his 
certificate  returned. 

Sec.  7.  No  indemnity  shall  be  paid  in  full  to  any 
member  of  this  Association  who  is  not  a bona  fide  full 
owner  of  the  property  returned  by  him.  If  he  owns 
only  an  interest  in  the  property,  such  interest  should 
be  specifically  stated,  or  the  indemnity  in  case  of  fire 
shall  be  proportionately  reduced  according  to  his 
actual  interest 

Sec  8.  If  any  member  of  this  Association  has 
effected  an  insurance  in  any  other  organization  on  the 
same  property  returned  by  him  to  this  Association,  he 
shall  not  be  indemnified  for  any  losses  on  such  property 
unless  these  facts  are  previously  made  known  to  this 
Association  and  action  taken  thereon  accordingly. 

Sec.  9.  The  members  are  in  duty  bound  to  make 
known  to  the  president  or  Board  of  Directors  all  cir- 
cumstances tending  to  increase  the  risk  upon  their 
property. 


CHARTER. 


13 


ARTICLE  X. 

Section  1.  This  Ass’n  shall  commence  operations 
as  soon  as  the  aggregate  appraised  indemnity  value  of 
the  property  given  in  by  its  members  and  accepted  by 
the  Association,  shall  amount  to  one  hundred  and  fifty 
thousand  dollars. 

ARTICLE  XI. 

Section  1.  The  members  of  this  society  at  a general 
meeting  convened  for  the  purpose,  after  thirty  days 
public  notice  advertised  in  one  daily  city  newspaper, 
may  change,  alter,  amend  modify,  dissolve  or  abrogate 
this  act  of  incorporation,  provided  the  members 
present  represent  three-fourths  of  the  aggregate 
amount  of  appraised  indemnity  value  of  all  the  prop- 
erty of  the  members  of  this  society  as  shown  by  their 
certificates  of  membership,  and  provided  fur  her,  the 
vote  taken  upon  such  change,  alteration,  modification 
or  dissolution,  and  in  favor  thereof,  shall  be  by  members 
representing  an  amount  in  excess  of  one-half  of  the 
sum  total  of  the  appraised  value  of  all  members  in  the 
association,  as  shown  by  their  certificate  of  membership. 

Sec.  2.  The  Board  of  Directors  shall  meet  at  least 
once  a month,  and  as  often  as  they  think  proper. 

ARTICLE  XII. 

Section  1.  The  liquidation  of  the  affairs  of  the  cor- 
poration shall  be  made  by  three  commissioners  elected 
by  the  Board  of  Directors. 

Sec.  2.  The  Board  of  Directors  shall  determine  by 
resolutions  the  qualifications,  rights,  powers  and  du- 
ties of  said  commissioners,  their  term  of  office,  salaries 
and  the  mode  in  which  a vacancy  in  their  number  may 
be  filled  and  limit  the  period  of  liquidation. 


14 


CHARTER. 


Thus  done  and  passed  in  my  office  in  this  city,  on  the 
day  and  date  above  written,  in  the  presence  of  J.  H. 
Wendt  and  W.  J.  Woodruff,  competent  witnesses,  who, 
with  the  said  appearers  and  me,  Notary,  after  reading 
thereof,  have  affixed  their  signatures. 

Original  signed:  G.  BUSING, 

THOMAS  BEBGIN, 

J.  LANGE, 

JOHN  H.  WOKMANN, 
P.  SCHNEIDER, 

H.  POHLMANN,  Sr. 
JAS.  H.  DOUGLAS, 

A.  BUESING, 

JOHN  COUYE. 

Witnesses: 

J.  H.  WENDT, 

WM.  J.  WOODRUFF, 

MICHAEL  GRIFFIN, 

* Notary  Public 


NEW  ORLEANS,  Oct.  20,  1888. 

The  foregoing  act  of  incorporation  of  the  “Property 
Holders’  Mutual  Aid  Fire  Indemnity  Society”  having 
been  submitted  to  me  for  examination  as  to  its  legality, 
I am  of  opinion  that  the  purposes  and  objects  of  the 
corporation,  as  specified  in  said  act,  are  legal,  and  that 
none  of  the  provisions  therein  contained  are  contrary 
to  law. 

JOHN  J.  FINNEY, 

Assistant  District  Attorney  for  the  parish  of  Orleans. 


CHARTER. 


15 


I,  the  undersigned,  Recorder  of  Mortgages,  in  and 
for  the  parish  of  Orleans,  State  of  Louisiana,  do  here- 
by certify  the  above  and  foregoing  act  of  incorporation 
of  the  “Proporty  Holders’  Mutual  Aid  Fire  Indemnity 
Society,”  and  the  certificate  of  the  Assistant  District 
Attorney,  were  this  day  recorded  in  my  office  in  book 
363,  folio  572. 

New  Orleans,  October  24,  1888. 

Y.  J.  JOUBERT,  Dept.  Rec. 

I,  the  undersigned,  notary  public  in  and  for  the 
parish  of  Orleans,  do  hereby  certify  the  foregoing  is  a 
true  and  correct  copy  of  the  original  act  of  incorpora- 
tion of  the  “Property  Holders’  Mutual  Aid  Fire 
Indemnity  Society,”  as  also  the  certificate  of  the 
Assistant  District  Attorney  and  Recorder  of  Mortgages 
for  the  parish  of  Orleans  thereto  attached,  on  file  and 
of  record  in  my  notarial  records. 

Witness  my  official  seal  and  signature  this  twenty- 
sixth  of  October,  A.  D.  1888. 


MICHAEL  GRIFFIN,  Notary  Public 


BY-LAWS. 


At  a meeting  of  the  Board  of  Directors  of  the 
Property  Holders  Mutual  Aid  Fire  Indemnity  Society, 
held  on  the  sixth  day  of  November.  1888,  the  following 
By-Laws  were  unanimously  adopted; 

AETICLE  I. 

The  amount  to  be  indemnified  on  one  house,  kitchen 
or  other  property  on  the  same  lot  may  be  included  in 
one  certificate;  but  there  shall  not  be  included  in  such 
certificate  as  subject  to  indemnity  a greater  number  of 
buildings  than  are  erected  on  any  ordinary  single  lot. 

AETICLE  II. 

No  cabinet-makers’,  coopers’,  joiners',  or  carpenters’ 
shops  or  wagon  factory,  sugar  house,  brew  house,  bake 
house,  pork  or  smoke  house,  still  houses,  paper  mills, 
malt  houses,  oil  factories  or  other  houses  or  shops, 
wherein  any  of  the  following  hazardous  trades  are  carried 
on,  to-wit:  apothecaries,  chemists,  tallow  chandlers,  inn 
houses,  stable  keepers,  or  any  house  where  any  of  the 
following  goods  are  stored,  to-wit:  hemp,  fiax,  tallow, 
pitch,  tar,  turpentine,  grain  unthrashed,  hay,  straw, 
fodder,  lard  oil,  coal  oil,  or  other  oil  for  burning  or 
lighting  purposes,  or  other  articles  in  like  degree 
hazardous,  shall  be  subject  to  indemnity  by  this 
Association,  unless  by  special  agreement  between  the 
parties.  And  no  indemnity  right  in  such  cases  shall 
be  binding,  unless  it  be  remarked  in  the  certificate  and 
in  the  application  thereto  belonging,  and  a proportion- 
ate assessment  rate  shall  be  agreed  upon  with  the 
Association. 


BY-LAWS. 


17 


ARTICLE  III. 

Each  member  of  this  Society  shall,  one  month  after 
the  expiration  of  his  membership  have  his  security  note 
returned  to  him,  provided  that  all  of  the  assessments 
and  charges  due  upon  same  up  to  time  of  the  expira- 
tion of  his  membership  shall  have  been  paid. 

ARTICLE  IY. 

It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  Secretary  to  notify  each 
member  of  the  expiration  of  his  term  of  membership 
at  least  ten  days  before  such  expiration.  But  in  all 
cases  the  rights  of  indemnity  attached  to  such  member- 
ship shall  cease  at  the  time  fixed  in  the  certificate  of 
membership. 

ARTICLE  V. 

Every  member  of  this  Society  shall  receive  certificates 
of  membership  and  indemnity,  but  only  after  the  pay- 
ment of  the  cash  provided  for  in  the  Charter  and 
the  delivery  of  his  security  notes.  The  right  to  indem- 
nity shall  be  forfeited,  if  any  member  has  failed  to  pay 
the  assessments  levied  against  him. 

ARTICLE  VI. 

In  case  alterations  or  improvements  are  to  be  made 
upon  buildings  subject  to  indemnity  by  this  Society, 
notice  thereof  must  be  given  to  the  Society  by  the 
owner  or  his  agent  and  a permit  granted  to  make  the 
proposed  alterations  or  improvements,  otherwise  the 
right  to  indemnity  shall  be  lost  and  forfeited. 

ARTICLE  VII. 

Should  any  building  or  property  subject  to  indemni- 
ty by  this  Society,  be  torn  down,  removed  or  sold,  then 
the  owner  shall  have  the  privilege  to  transfer  his  in- 


18 


BY-LAWS. 


terest  or  any  part  thereof,  on  another  building  or 
property  owned  by  him,  upon  his  conforming  to  the 
rules  and  regulations. 

ARTICLE  VIII. 

In  case  of  the  assignment  of  indemnity  rights  for 
the  security  of  a mortgage  debt,  the  holder  of  the 
mortgage  claim  shall  jointly  with  the  owner  of  the 
property  be  responsible  for  the  payment  of  all  assess- 
ments made  thereafter  against  the  said  owner  on  the 
policy  transferred. 

ARTICLE  IX. 

No  transfer  of  indemnity  certificates  shall  be  bind- 
ing upon  the  Society,  until  the  same  has  been  approved 
by  the  president. 


ARTICLE  X. 

Should  it  be  found,  at  any  time,  that  the  appraised 
value  of  property  on  indemnity  certificates  is  fixed  at 
more  than  its  actual  value,  the  Society  shall  have  the 
right  to  amend  or  cancel  the  appraisement. 

ARTICLE  XI. 

The  storing  of  gunpowder,  nitro  gas,  coal  oil,  cam- 
phene,  burning  fluid,  benzine,  turpentine,  varnishes 
and  other  combustible  oils  or  spirits,  phosphorus  and 
saltpeter;  pitch,  tar  and  rosin  in  large  quantities;  lard 
oil,  lard,  tallowT,  fat  and  pork  in  quantities  of  more 
than  five  barrels  or  its  equivalent;  cotton  in  bales  or 
raw;  hay,  straw,  oakum  and  all  articles  containing 
combustible  fibres;  in  buildings  subject  to  indemnity, 
is  considered  unlawful  and  shall  render  the  policy 
void,  except  where  a special  agreement  between  the 
owner  and  the  Society  is  made  and  the  same  has  been 
indorsed  upon  the  certificate  of  indemnity. 


BY-LAWS. 


19 


ARTICLE  XII. 

Each  member  of  this  Society  is  bound  and  obliged 
to  pay  his  respective  part  of  all  losses  or  damages 
within  thirty  days  after  the  amount  of  such  losses  or 
damages  shall  have  been  determined  by  the  Board  of 
Directors,  and  after  due  notice  thereof  shall  be  given 
r by  the  Secretary. 

ARTICLE  XIII. 

In  case  any  member  shall  fail  to  pay  his  part  of  the 
losses  or  damages  assessed  as  aforesaid,  the  claim  of 
the  Association  against  him  therefor,  shall  be  placed 
for  collection  in  the  hands  of  an  attorney  of  law,  and 
the  member  in  default  shall  be  charged  and  shall  be 
bound  to  pay  in  addition  to  the  amount  due  by  him  to 
the  Association,  the  fee  of  said  attorney,  which  shall 
be  an  ordinarily  reasonable  amount,  together  with  all 
the  costs  of  suit. 

ARTICLE  XIV. 

The  Directors  shall  have  the  authority  to  allow  awards 
and  premiums  to  such  persons  or  fire  companies  that 
in  case  of  danger,  have  proved  beneficial  to  the  Society 
in  extinguishing  the  fire,  preventing  damages  or 
saving  property. 

ARTICLE  XV. 

Should  a member  resign  he  will  be  entitled  to  a 
return  of  security  notes  as  provided  for  in  Article  II, 
Section  3 of  the  Charter,  but  the  cash  payment  made 
p by  him  shall  be  forfeited. 

^ ARTICLE  XVI. 

The  fixed  regular  meeting  of  this  Society  shall  be 
on  the  third  Monday  of  December  of  each  year. 
Special  meetings  may  be  called  by  the  President  or 
Board  of  Directors. 


t 


Gerhard  Busing, 

Jas.  H.  Douglas, 

Jno.  H.  Wormann, 

H.  Pohlmann,  Sr., 

Thos.  Bergin, 

Jno.  Oouve, 

Michael  Griffin, 

Aug.  Buesing, 

Peter  Schneider, 

J.  H.  Wendt, 

G.  H.  Stierle, 

Geo.  Grunewald, 

Jno.  Laskey, 

Jno.  J.  Ehrhardt, 

Thos.  FrOeba, 

Henry  Munstermann, 

N.  Stumpf. 

M.  Doll, 

Hy.  Schulte, 

H.  Pohlmann,  Jr., 

O.  H.  Rohe, 

M.  Halbritter, 

H.  C,  Lind, 

H.  Bremmermann, 

Jno.  Cassidy, 

Hath.  Schemel  & Stumpf, 
Peter  Durst, 

Mrs.  Anna  M.  Drysdale, 
Jno.  Lange, 

H.  L.  Frantz, 

Fred.  Robbert, 

Nich.  Burg, 

E.  Hollinger, 

Hy.  Liere, 

B.  M.  Pohlmann, 

Geo.  Westerhaus,  ' 

Jno.  Ueber, 

Jos.  Fetter, 

Jno.  F.  Kelley, 

D.  Imwalde, 

Peter  Funck, 

Est.  Mrs.  J.  G.  Koepke, 


Gustav  Mathis, 

Jacob  Schwander, 

Mrs,  Aug.  Noel, 

Peter  Schwager, 

J.  H.  Rolfs, 

Adam  Gambel, 

E.  D.  Keyl, 

Mrs.  C.  Hennig, 

Emile  Datow, 

Mrs.  J.  Oppenheimer, 

Mrs.  Cath.  Herrlitz, 

J acob  Arnold, 

Jacob  Emmer, 

Mrs.  M.  Oltmann, 

Chas.  Mazoletti, 

Francis  DeVries,  Jr., 

Mrs.  Wm.  Burger, 

Peter  Fink, 

Jno.  Wilhelm, 

Jno.  H.  Timpkin, 

Mrs.  B.  Letten, 

Wm.  Eaton, 

Jacob  Kaufman, 

Aug.  Thiergart, 

Mrs.  Annie  T.  L.  Thomas, 
Mary  Englebrecht, 

Gustave  Seeger,  ' > ’ 

C.  W.Wiegand, 

Society  Natchez  Tribe  No.  l 
Wm.  Losch,  Red  Me: 

Mrs.  M.  L.  Helmke. 

Wm.  Duker, 

L.  A.  Marmion, 

Geo.  H.  Meyer, 

Wm.  M.  Ueber, 

Joseph  Lorenz, 

Jno.  Scheuermann, 

C.  Raliders, 

Fred  Raecker, 

Mrs.  N,  Goetz. 


BUf  1 

i 


